A few years back, I heard Udat Abir Gulaal Lali by Girija Devi-ji. Initially, the song did not appeal to me. However, it has now become one of my favourite songs by Girija Devi-ji. I suppose, I found meaning in the song and that changed everything. This post is about that change.
The words are as follows:
Udat abeer gulal laali chhayi
laal bhaya amber laal bhayi jamuna
laal gauwen gopal
mor chandrika laal bhayo re
murli laal vishal
laali chhayi udat abeer gulal
laal shyam laal bhayi radhe
laal laal brijbaal udat abeera gulaal
Source- http://bhajansagar.blogspot.in/2015/04/blog-post.html
As the words suggests, it's a Holi song. The song is about Holi in Braj and how everything is covered in red. The sky is red, River Jamuna is red, Radha-Krishna are red. There are no perceived differences and everything is covered in one shade.
Dharmarajadhvarindra's Vedanta Paribhasha is an introductory text (प्रकरण ग्रंथ) of Vedanta dealing with the valid means of knowledge (प्रमाण). The first section of the text deals with perception (प्रत्यक्ष). In this section, there is a lot of discussion on the point that the substratum (अधिष्ठान) of everything is Consciousness (चेतन).
The world is a creation of Maya (माया). Maya is indescribable (अनिर्वचनीय), in the sense that it is both real (सत्) and unreal (असत्). We experience the world as true, real and existing. In that sense, Maya is real. However, Vedanta tells us that only Consciousness is true and therefore in that sense, Maya is unreal.
A natural question arises - If Maya is unreal, then how can it appear to be real?
A natural question arises - If Maya is unreal, then how can it appear to be real?
The substratum of everything in the world is Consciousness. It underlies everything. To my understanding, Vedanta says (and I also believe this) that when we experience Maya, the 'existence/is-ness' portion of that experience is actually the experience of Consciousness. For it is only Consciousness that is true and only Consciousness can give the experience of truth/existence.
For instance, let us take the famous rope-snake example. Assume there is a rope on the floor in a dimly lit room. You enter the room and mistake the rope for a snake. In that moment, you experience the snake and truly believe that the snake is real. However, as soon as you turn on the lights, you find out that there is no snake (in fact there never was a snake) and that there is only a rope. In that sense, the rope exists and the snake does not exist. However, for that brief moment, we experience the snake as existing. The 'existence/is-ness' of the snake is because of the 'existence/is-ness' of the rope. There would not have been a snake, if there wasn't any rope in first place.
Similarly, the experience of the 'existence/is-ness' of the whole universe is the really the experience of the 'existence/is-ness' of Consciousness. The whole universe is an illusion (like the snake) and only Consciousness is true (like the rope). Therefore, in truth, there are no differences and there is only Consciousness.
Similarly, the experience of the 'existence/is-ness' of the whole universe is the really the experience of the 'existence/is-ness' of Consciousness. The whole universe is an illusion (like the snake) and only Consciousness is true (like the rope). Therefore, in truth, there are no differences and there is only Consciousness.
The opening verse from the Ishavasya Upanishad is as follows:
ईशा वास्यम् इदं सर्वं यत् किं च जगत्यां जगत् ।
तेन त्यक्तेन भुंजीथाः मा गृधः कस्य स्विद् धनम् ।।
Translation (by Swami Chinmayananda ji): All this, whatsoever moves in this universe, including the universe, itself moving, is indwelt or pervaded or enveloped by the Lord. That renounced, thou shouldst enjoy. Covet not anybody's wealth.
To my understanding, the said verse (especially the first part) suggests that the entire universe is covered or clothed by God/Consciousness. The said verse gives another viewpoint to the same conclusion/goal.
For instance, assume that you have a table with scratch marks and spots. Now, place a pristine white sheet over the table. You no longer see the scratch marks and spots. Similarly, the entire universe is full of pairs of opposites. Our mind also has its own set of likes and dislikes (राग-द्वेष). However, the moment we clothe the whole universe with the Lord, the opposites fade away and we only see His presence. In oneness, there is no question of likes and dislikes.
One of my favourite verses from the Upanishads is from Katha Upanishad and it reads as follows:
अणोः अणीयान् महतः महीयान् अात्मा अस्य जन्तोः निहितः गुहायां ।।
तं अक्रतुः पश्यति वीतशोकः धातुप्रसादात् महिमानं अात्मनः ।।
Translation (by Swami Chinmayananda ji): The Atman that is subtler than the subtlest, and greater than the greatest, is seated in the cavity of heart of each living being. He, who is free from willing and wishing, with his mind and senses composed, beholds the majesty of the Self and becomes free from sorrow.
God/Consciousness is in everyone and everything. There is no place that God/Consciousness is not. However, our common complaint is that we don't experience It everywhere. We may believe that God/Consciousness pervades and envelopes everything, but we certainly don't 'feel' it.
This brings us back to Vedanta Paribhasha. The second among the valid means of knowledge is inference (अनुमान). I am not gong into the details and I hope that this very famous example would clarify.
Assume that you have knowledge that there is no smoke without fire. Now assume that you see smoke (धूम) coming from a mountain (पर्वत). If you know that there cannot be smoke without fire (which was the first premise), your inevitable conclusion on seeing smoke coming from a mountain would be that there is fire on the mountain (पर्वतो वह्निमान धूमात्). Seeing smoke, you infer the existence of fire.
Similarly, in all our experiences of the universe - visible, invisible, gross, subtle, waking, dreaming etc., we have to infer the presence of Consciousness. All our experiences are of Consciousness. It will take effort. But I have faith that it is possible.
[For some strange reason, this verse makes me extremely happy. Just the thought that everything is Consciousness brings a huge smile to my face.]
That brings us back to Udat Abir Gulaal Lali. Initially, the song was just a piece of music. Now, it is an expression of the powerful message of the Upanishads - that there are no differences, that everything is pervaded by Consciousness and that only one thing is true - Consciousness. The essence in everything is the essence in me. I am the essence. There is only the essence.
PS: I am truly blessed to have had the good fortune of being exposed to Vedanta. No amount of thanks can match what I have received from my Gurus. And yet, I don't know what else to say but thank you.
Source: https://image.freepik.com/free-icon/pranava-om-ios-7-interface-symbol_318-35432.jpg